Find a Therapist in Madison, VA

I have a positive and friendly outtake on life and incorporate that into my counseling approach. I meet you where you are and adapt my approach accordingly. You are the priority, and you deserve to be treated respectfully and kindly.

My name is Emilee Smith and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Virginia, working with clients state-wide via telehealth. I have experience working with many populations including children, adolescents, adults, and families. I have experience helping people with anxiety, depression, and parent-child relationships. I utilize cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and dialectical behavior therapy techniques to help clients feel better, communicate effectively, and have healthy relationships. These evidence-based approaches involve developing healthy ways of thinking and healthy coping skills while validating the client's feelings and experiences. The client and I work together as a team to reach their therapeutic goals.

I believe in the intrinsic worth of all human beings. I believe that many people do not see their value because it is overshadowed by the shame caused by their perceptions of who they should be and what they should be achieving. There are many reasons why these distortions exist; but one thing is for certain, it creates a feeling of being a fraud and deep shame. A lot of time and energy is used to counteract this secret shame. I feel that it is important to help teens and adults to become authentic and accepting of their strengths and weaknesses instead of putting our emotional and physical energy in denying and being afraid of our humanness. It is exhausting and paralyzing to be so afraid of our imperfections. I believe there is value in accepting our own humanity. We have to climb off our self imposed pedestal which is secretive and isolating and connect with other human beings without the fear of being discovered a fraud. It is so freeing and meaningful.

I am an internationally-known couples therapist, workshop presenter, and clinical trainer. In 2010, I founded the Tikkun Learning Center, an educational institution through which I train, supervise, and consult therapists in Encounter-centered Couples Therapy (EcCT). EcCT is an extremely effective method with proven success in teaching couples who to re-create the magic of connection. EcCT is an integrative approach inspired by the philosophy of Martin Buber, as well as a variety of relational methodologies including Imago Relationship Therapy, Appreciative Inquiry, Re-evaluation Counseling, and Relational Neuro-biology. I have developed a unique, customized, transformational two-day private session for one couple. You will receive my full attention, expertise and mastery, and I will introduce you to the groundbreaking and pragmatic principle of the three invisible connectors: "the Space, the Bridge, and the Encounter."

Sick and tired of feeling stuck, anxious, and unhappy? You're not alone. My name is Atim and I specialize in helping couples and families who are struggling with these same issues. My clients typically feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward when they first come to me. I work with LGBTQIA+ couples, blended families, parents of children with ADHD, individuals recovering from trauma, and more. Through my unique approach, I help clients get to their unique goals, which often include things like less fighting, improved self-esteem, better relationships, more peaceful family dynamics and a more fulfilling life. My approach is rooted in compassion, empathy, and a deep understanding of the relationships between people. Let's get started with making reach changes today.

I work collaboratively with individuals, couples, families and groups towards real change. My approach pulls from a variety of techniques based on the need of the client. My primary modalities include Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to provide specific tools; Gottman method for couples; as well as other techniques based upon the need of the client.

My primary treatment approach is cognitive-behavioral which is solution-focused and generally shorter-term, however, in reality, we all generally benefit from a variety of therapeutic strategies and i will often utilize complementary and eclectic techniques that enables a more personalized treatment approach and relies on best practices for your specific issues. You will find me to be an active and engaged therapist and we will work together in a team-oriented and collaborative style. I often recommend activities to practice between sessions, and these might include a journal, trying out new communication skills and problem-solving or coping techniques that we have practiced, brief reading assignments, some research, relaxation techniques, and a variety of other options. I believe humor is an important element in the therapeutic process, and to life in general, and I strive to create a relaxing and trusting environment with my clients. I am very happy to answer any questions you might have, and if I am unsure, I will do all that I can to help point you in the right direction. I consider it an honor to assist clients on their personal journey in therapy. Participating in therapy is an important step in reclaiming your happiness and satisfaction and I take me role in providing assistance on that journey seriously as I appreciate the time, cost, and emotional investment of this choice.

Is your mind spinning with worries and you just want a break from the endless "to do" list, anxiety and insecurity? Perhaps you find yourself physically or emotionally exhausted each day. If you're struggling internally, or in your relationship and want to feel better, counseling can be helpful. Are you ready to start working on your self-care but just don’t know where to start? Perhaps you've decided it’s time to get your life back. Many people get caught in the negative cycle where feeling anxious, depressed or stressed is a way of life, especially in today's world. It's easy to forget that a better life awaits us if we reach out for support to help us find what we're looking for. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, anxious and depressed, you can have a life where your days are greeted with more inner peace, more confidence and hopefulness for what lies ahead. If you are sick and tired of feeling overwhelmed, we want to help you feel better. Like you, our clients are regular, everyday women who are struggling with life's difficult ups and downs. Life's overwhelming stressors can turn into having issues such as anxiety and depression, stress and trauma, women's wellness issues including self esteem and body image, relationship problems and hard life transitions. Therapy will be tailored to meet your specific, individual needs. By using a practical approach and collaborating with you, we can find your path to a happy, healthy, fulfilled and meaningful life through the process of therapy. It might not seem so, but it is possible to start feeling good about yourself and your life. Contact us today to set up an appointment or for more support.

In my practice, I work with adults, defined as approximately age 20 and older. I work with individual clients, with couples, and with groups. In group therapy, the clients are almost always in individual therapy as well, with me, with my co-therapist, or with another therapist who has referred the client to the group. I work with clients presenting a variety of issues, including: *Depression Relationship Issues *Life Transitions *Anxiety *Addictive Behaviors *GLBT Issues *Anger *Grief and Loss *Sense of Self/Self-Esteem *Men's Issues *Trauma and PTSD *Partners of Abuse Survivors *Adult Children of Alcoholic/Dysfunctional/Abuse Families *Couples Issues, including Re-Marriage, Extramarital Relationships, and Step-Families I have had experience working with diverse groups of people. I have been a consulting psychologist to an orthodox yeshiva, I have worked with Catholic seminarians, I have taught and supervised trainees in a largely Catholic Pastoral Counseling program, and I have taken numerous workshops in working with Gay, Bi, and Lesbian, and Questioning clients. In addition, I have been involved in Multicultural work since 2001, and seek to keep an open mind and continuously question my assumptions about people whose lives are different from mine. I believe that psychotherapy is an interactive process that calls for both the client and the therapist to be as fully involved as possible. Therefore, I participate actively with my patients, sharing my thoughts, impressions, and reactions to what we are talking about. I believe that people can change even long-standing patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior if THEY participate actively. My job is to create a space where clients can be curious and learn about the ways of thinking, feeling, and acting that they bring to their lives, and about how these ways work for them and against them. I create this space by bringing both my professional training and understanding and my human compassion, empathy, and respect. In my practice, I typically meet with people once a week; if there is a need for additional support, or if we decide together that more intense work is called for, meeting twice a week can be very useful. Even meeting once a week allows clients to develop enough comfort with me and with therapy for our work to be effective and helpful. Regarding my theoretical grounding, I have intensive training in Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioral, Gestalt, and Existential therapeutic approaches, and I draw from each of these as the client's situation, needs, and goals call for. Some therapists subscribe to and identify with one school of thought and apply that way of thinking and working to every client. I first work to understand each client's particular issues, needs, and style of thinking and feeling. THEN, I use the approach and methods that I believe would be most useful to that patient, and remain open to using whatever else might work based on what develops. Therefore, my orientation is eclectic, and my methods are determined by the client's personality and needs.

I am William Watson, a Licensed Social Worker Supervisee with 2 years of experience in Virginia. Shaped by a working-class, single-parent upbringing, I bring lived experience and strong clinical training to my work. I support adolescents and adults facing depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), stress, and life transitions. My goal is to offer steady guidance and practical support as a respectful partner who values honesty, feedback, and collaboration.

If you are struggling in your relationships, navigating a major life transition, or feeling stuck in patterns related to substance or behavioral addictions, you are not alone. Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, capable adults who find themselves repeating painful relational dynamics or feeling disconnected from the life they want to be living. Therapy can be a powerful place to understand why—and to begin doing something different. I specialize in working with adults from diverse cultural backgrounds who want more fulfilling relationships and a stronger sense of self. Together, we explore the patterns that may be contributing to your needs not being met. I help you to increase awareness of how these patterns developed and how they continue to show up in your life today. Insight is important—but real change happens through new experiences. When appropriate, I connect clients to therapy groups where they can practice new ways of relating and receive meaningful interpersonal feedback in a supportive environment.

Here at Acacia Counseling & Consultative Services, we realize that no two people are the same, and we tailor our therapy to meet your specific needs as an individual. We love helping people understand the things that are holding them back with an in-depth approach. After recognizing underlying problems, clients can fully realize their strengths and adjust certain behaviors and thoughts to see things in a different, healthier way. Our practice specializes in helping people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, or trauma. If you are trying to navigate these areas of life, we’re confident that we have the experience to help you rediscover what brings happiness to your life. Through therapy, there is always a way to address the issues you face and learn coping strategies to help you both right now and in the future. Through therapy, we can get you on track to leading a happier, more fulfilling life by equipping you with the tools you need to more efficiently and confidently manage life’s challenges. It is never too late to start living the life you’ve always wanted.